Collin Price always strives for excellence, both at his profession and with his own business.
For that excellence, Price was recently was honored with an award for his drive to go beyond what is required.
Price, public relations manager of the Ho-Chunk Nation Office of the President, accepted the Rising Stars Under 40 distinction at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in La Crosse.
Price was one of 19 emerging leaders to earn the honor this year, selected from hundreds of applicants from the Wisconsin counties of La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Juneau, Crawford and Pepin, Minnesota counties of Winona, Houston and Fillmore, and Iowa counties of Winneshiek and Allamakee.
Rising Stars Under 40 is cosponsored by the 7 Rivers Alliance and the River Valley Media Group.
Chris Hardie, executive director of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce, nominated Price for Rising Stars Under 40. He praised his drive to soar above the normal, welcoming any challenge as an opportunity to prove success is attainable if you’re willing to work for it.
“Despite his humble beginnings,” Hardie said, “and having statistical odds against him, Collin Price earned his baccalaureate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2006. Following college, he took an oath to protect and serve as a Wisconsin state trooper. In January of 2012, he became the Ho-Chunk Nation’s public relations officer. He enthusiastically joined the administration, challenging himself each day to excel in research, both public and internal communications and messaging, technology and a number of skills necessary to ensure clear information flowed to the stockholders.”
Price believes there is so much negativity in the world today, that he wants to show them that there are good people and a lot of good being done. It just doesn’t get the attention that it should. And people need to be willing to fail in order to learn from that experience and continue the goal with a little more wisdom.
“Don’t be afraid to try for something you really believe in, even if it’s different,” Price said.
His job as Public Relations Specialist is to provide communication with other tribal members and with other tribes.
“I’ve achieved a great deal because I’ve worked for it,” he said.
So often people stop short of what they truly want because of the negativity they receive from friends or peers.
In his business, Indigecomms, Price works as an intermediary between professional sports teams and native communities.
With his business, he gets to focus on the things he loves.
Over the years, he has narrowed that focus to sports and helping tribes achieve their goals.
“Professional teams, such as baseball and football teams, don’t know how to connect with indigenous communities,” Price said. “They may want to create youth camps, summer camps, and outreach programs, but they just don’t know where to begin. They don’t know how to build that communication from scratch.”
Collin’s business bridges that gap so the professional sports organizations and the native communities can work together.
Collin has three children and he includes them in all types of activities, especially sports. He wants them to learn about lacrosse, football, and all other types of sports and leads them by example.
Price said he learned, while growing up in Tomah, a deep respect for his elders. That respect extends to his mother, Myra, who worked for the Ho-Chunk Nation for more than 20 years.
“I’m most proud of being in a position that allows me to give back to my tribe and its members,” he said. “The Ho-Chunk Nation gave me an opportunity that has allowed me to return the favor. The work is extremely rewarding when I’m able to help mend relationships and strengthen those ties which in turn benefit entire communities.”
The Rising Stars Under 40 award wasn’t anything he was expecting, nor anything he believes he deserved.
“It was an honor to be selected. There were a lot of talented people as candidates, all in the tops of their professions, so I really don’t feel I was worthy,” he said.
As for his future, he has set a lot of goals for himself that he hopes to be able to complete.
“There is so much more to do,” Collin said. “I haven’t accomplished nearly what I want to do.”